Gold ore-forming fluids of the Tanami region, Northern Australia

Fluid inclusion studies have been carried out on major gold deposits and prospects in the Tanami region to determine the compositions of the associated fluids and the processes responsible for gold mineralization. Pre-ore, milky quartz veins contain only two-phase aqueous inclusions with salinities ≤19 wt% NaCl eq. and homogenization temperatures that range from 110 to 410°C. In contrast, the ore-bearing veins typically contain low to moderate salinity (<14 wt% NaCl eq.), H₂O + CO₂ ± CH₄ ± N₂-bearing fluids. The CO₂-bearing inclusions coexist with two-phase aqueous inclusions that exhibit a wider range of salinities (≤21 wt% NaCl eq.). Post-ore quartz and carbonate veins contain mainly two-phase aqueous inclusions, with a last generation of aqueous inclusions being very CaCl₂-rich. Salinities range from 7 to 33 wt% NaCl eq. and homogenization temperatures vary from 62 to 312°C. Gold deposits in the Tanami region are hosted by carbonaceous or iron-rich sedimentary rocks and/or mafic rocks. They formed over a range of depths at temperatures from 200 to 430°C. The Groundrush deposit formed at the greatest temperatures and depths (260–430°C and ≤11 km), whereas deposits in the Tanami goldfield formed at the lowest temperatures (≥200°C) and at the shallowest depths (1.5–5.6 km). There is also evidence in the Tanami goldfield for late-stage isothermal mixing with higher salinity (≤21 wt% NaCl eq.) fluids at temperatures between 100 and 200°C. Other deposits (e.g., The Granites, Callie, and Coyote) formed at intermediate depths and at temperatures ranging from 240 to 360°C. All ore fluids contained CO₂ ± N₂ ± CH₄, with the more deeply formed deposits being enriched in CH₄ and higher level deposits being enriched in CO₂. Fluids from deposits hosted mainly by sedimentary rocks generally contained appreciable quantities of N₂. The one exception is the Tanami goldfield, where the quartz veins were dominated by aqueous inclusions with rare CO₂-bearing inclusions. Calculated δ ¹⁸O values for the ore fluids range from 3.8 to 8.5‰ and the corresponding δD values range from −89 to −37‰. Measured δ ¹³C values from CO₂ extracted from fluid inclusions ranged from −5.1 to −8.4‰. These data indicate a magmatic or mixed magmatic/metamorphic source for the ore fluids in the Tanami region. Interpretation of the fluid inclusion, alteration, and structural data suggests that mineralization may have occurred via a number of processes. Gold occurs in veins associated with brittle fracturing and other dilational structures, but in the larger deposits, there is also an association with iron-rich rocks or carbonaceous sediments, suggesting that both structural and chemical controls are important. The major mineralization process appears to be boiling/effervescence of a gas-rich fluid, which leads to partitioning of H₂S into the vapor phase resulting in gold precipitation. However, some deposits also show evidence of desulfidation by fluid–rock interaction and/or reduction of the ore-fluid by fluid mixing. These latter processes are generally more prevalent in the higher crustal-level deposits.     

Rockfall hazard in the Daisekkei Valley, the northern Japanese Alps, on 11 August 2005

This paper describes a rockfall event in the Daisekkei Valley of Mount Shirouma-dake (2,932 m), the northern Japanese Alps. The rockfall occurred on a steep cliff comprising well-jointed felsites and produced debris of ≥8,000 m³. Most debris was deposited on an elongated snowpatch located immediately beneath the cliff, and it caused casualties among people who were trekking along a trail on the snowpatch. Additionally, a large rock block slipped 1 km on the snowpatch. The rockfall could have been due to the differential retreat of the rockwall, which contains areas of high- and low-density joints. Seasonal and diurnal freeze–thaw activities and snow avalanches and wash appear to be important factors responsible for the retreat. Although some rock blocks that can collapse further remain on the rockwall, the position of the mountain trail in the Daisekkei Valley is fixed. Fundamental reform of tourism systems for climbers, including education on natural hazards, is required.     

Comment on “Is there a paleolimnological explanation for ‘walking on water’ in the Sea of Galilee?”

In a recent paper, Nof et al. (J Paleolimnol 35:417–439, 2006) suggest a physical mechanism which could account for the formation of ice on Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) in northern Israel. Based on the sea surface temperature record of sediment cores from the Mediterranean Sea the authors argue that centennial-scale cold events had the potential to trigger local ‘springs ice’ formation on the lake in the past. Here, we demonstrate that a closer inspection of the paleoceanographic record in combination with correlation and regression analyses of meteorological data provides no evidence for such cold events in the lake region during the last 10,000 years. Thus, the formation of ‘springs ice’ on Lake Kinneret was unlikely at least since the beginning of the Neolithic.     

北秦岭地带断裂活动性氡气测试成果分析评价

采用断层气体测试方法, 对北秦岭地带主要断裂及其活动性进行了测试, 首次提出了该区断裂活动性测氡成果判别的相对标准。进而对区内典型的氡气测试成果剖面作了解释分析, 并判别了断裂 (带)的相对活动强弱与活动水平等有关断裂活动性问题。最后, 简要地探讨了在北秦岭地区未来可持续发展中断裂 (带)对其模式及格局的影响。     

粤北大沟谷热水沉积钠长石岩岩石化学及稀土元素

大沟谷含金钠长石岩带上为层状下为脉状产于震旦系乐昌峡群片岩中,主要由钠长石岩及碳酸盐岩组成。钠长石岩多为块状及条带状构造。钠长石岩和片岩化学成分不同,钠长石岩相对富集Al₂ O₃ 、TiO₂ 、MnO、Na₂O、P₂O₅,而贫Fe₂O₃ 、FeO、MgO、CaO、K₂ O。在主要氧化物组成的直角坐标图上,钠长石岩和片岩位于不同的区域及具不同的变化趋势。钠长石岩稀土元素含量较低,在 12.5 6× 10 -6～ 5 5.6 6× 10 -6之间,具较低的La/Yb(1.82～ 6.42 )、La/Sm(0.96～ 2.99)、Gd/Yb(0.99～ 2.71)比值,较大的δEu异常范围 (0.41～ 0.8),弱的δCe异常。钠长石岩地质产状特征及稀土元素特征表明其主要是热水沉积形成的。     

镜铁山式含铜条带状铁建造的地质特征及成因讨论

通过时空展布规律，沉积建造特征，含铜性及地球化学参数的研究分析，认为北祁连西段含铜带状铁建造为元古宙大陆裂谷环境下，幔源岩浆活动间隙期的热水沉积作用产物，其内预富集的成矿元素Cu应主要来源于下伏的基性火山岩。     

塔里木北部地区岩石物性参数测试和区域层滑系统的确定

为了定量地研究塔里木北部地区区域的层次结构．拆离构造，特别是同油气地质、圈闭构造密切相关的沉积盖层中的层滑倾滑和推覆滑覆等各种构造的形成机制，对该区沉积盖层进行了较系统的岩石物性和岩石力学标本采集和测试（包括三轴参照实验）．依其参数结构特点和地质、物探资料，划分出４套７层区域性层滑系统，并与研究程度较高的中、下扬子区的物性参数、岩性组合和构造特征进行综合对比．最后还进一步阐明了塔里木北部地区特征的前列式冲断构造和含油气局部构造等，均受到这７层区域层滑系统的制约．     

北半球50条山地冰川近期的物质平衡状况

近期北半球大多数山地冰川的物质平衡为负,冰川普遍退缩,表明北半球气候暖化的趋势.由于区域气候波动和变化的差异性以及冰川对气候变化的敏感性(响应程度)的不同,北半球山地冰川在普遍退缩的背景下具有鲜明的区域特征.     

藏北高原D110点不同季节土壤温度的日变化特征

利用１９９８年ＧＡＭＥ－Ｔｉｂｅｔ加强观测期间取得的一个年周期的土壤温度资料,对藏北高原Ｄ１１０点土壤温度日变化特征的月际变化进行了分析。结果表明,在夏半年（５－９）月土壤温度存在明显的日变化,且基本上按正弦曲线变化,但相位随深度的增加而滞后;冬半年土壤温度尽管也存在日变化,但变幅较小。